He said Steele was confronted in the shop without provocation, sought refuge and desperately called friends for help while trapped.

Robert Mochrie, for Birmingham, said he never intended any violence and acted in an “ill-conceived idea” to protect a friend in dire straits.

Shaun Dryden, defending Liam Hope, said he over-reacted foolishly and impulsively amid “much ado about nothing” and a lot of “macho posturing”.

Chris Morrison, representing Blake Hope, said the immature teenager, then 17, got involved out of family loyalty and was not a “prime mover”.

Eric Watson, for Nathan Small, said he was sprayed in the face by Steele, he left the scene and the two groups were no longer at loggerheads.

Alex Bousfield, for landscape gardener Paul Small, said he went to help his brother after an unexpected call.

Paul Small (Image: The Gazette)

Judge Peter Armstrong said the men would have been locked up if there had been any fighting or injuries.

“None of you need go away today,” he told them.

He gave each an eight-month sentence suspended for two years with unpaid work for Nathan Small and Blake Hope, two-month curfews for Birmingham, Paul Small and Liam Hope, and rehabilitation activity for all except Blake Hope.

When Birmingham appeared dissatisfied with his sentence in the dock, the judge said: “Well if you want to go to prison, just say so.”